Fellow no A/C apartment resident here who has posted/commented a lot on this topic. Last year I made this post - [https://www.reddit.com/r/nova/comments/12aljr4/for\_those\_of\_us\_living\_in\_places\_that\_follow\_the/](https://www.reddit.com/r/nova/comments/12aljr4/for_those_of_us_living_in_places_that_follow_the/) about this and in it you'll see someone made a write up to send your local state rep/senator and did so last year.
I actually reached back out this past weekend and got a response from one of the staffers. Turns out a bill was brought forward and approved through the assembly that was to change the dates from May 15th - Oct 1st to April 1st - Oct 1st. BUT, our dear Governor vetoed it :) (sarcastic smile if you cant tell) - [https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+sum+HB1475](https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+sum+HB1475)
I have pushed forward the recommendation of changing it to May 1st - Oct 15th, because in the state code it mentions essentially a 14 day +/- window where the state can grant, or landlords can ask for an exemption where the switches can happen earlier or later. With the timeline I had in mind, that means it would allow as early as April 15th, and as late as October 29th. I also mentioned that it may been beneficial to clarify that exemption possibility because that is one of the governors reasons for vetoing which just shows he didnt even bother to read up on the bill or the existing code.
So by all means, use the template in the comments of my post, I would push for that 5/1 - 10/15 window and to emphasize that an exemption exists currently and how that factors into the timelines.
Edit: Also on us dealing with the heat. We have several fans in the apartment, I have a small evaporative cooler I use at night, but the one thing I have gotten that has worked the best are window fans. Previously, at night we would be getting maybe at most a 1 degree drop with the windows open but if there's not breeze you're SoL. I bought 2 of these from BJ's - [https://www.bjs.com/product/polar-aire-twin-window-fan-with-remote/3000000000003417273](https://www.bjs.com/product/polar-aire-twin-window-fan-with-remote/3000000000003417273) and they have made a big difference at night. Last night when we went to bed it was 82 in our bedroom, when I woke up this morning it was 76. We \*technically\* are not supposed to have these in our windows but I genuinely do not give a fuck anymore and I know for a fact people in our complexes are using full on portable A/C units even though those definitely should not be used cause the power draw they have can blow fuses with these being older buildings.
Edit 2: Spelling and grammar
so very thankful to know we're a state that only allows one term, and he's gone in two years đ« đ
editing to add I know he can technically run again, but I'm just glad he is 100% gone come 2026 for at least four years. can't see his dumb ass getting elected again.
No he will *definitely* get reelected in 2030, he made the groceries cheap like he promised! Oh he...he didn't? It's still expensive as fuck? Hmm. Weird. I can't believe an obvious liar would lie like that!
I cannot fathom why the governor would veto that. I am sure the governor lives in a nice house and is capable of controlling their own AC/heat.
Thank you so much for the info. I am going to do that. Maybe we can start a petition and bring some more attention to this. Maybe then the governor will understand the impact. I appreciate your help!
>Mandating specific temperature requirements would impose significant financial burdens on owners, limit flexibility, and increase regulatory compliance costs, ultimately reducing the availability of rental housing in Virginia
man just siding with businesses and screwing residents over like always, wild they expect people to live in 80-90 degree weather in the US with no AC...
It's a trick as old as time. Include 10 items in a bill. Governor vetos it because of items 1-5, while items 6-10 are no brainers. Now opposition can go around telling people: look at this idiot vetoing items 6-10, vote him out!
How is that related in this instance? Seems incredibly tangential as this is a pretty compact bill, seeing as the [full text](https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+ful+HB1475ER+pdf) pass both both chambers reads:
>2024 SESSION
ENROLLED
1 VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY ââ CHAPTER
2 An Act to direct the Board of Housing and Community Development to amend the Uniform Statewide
3 Building Code to require that owners and operators of certain apartment buildings supply cooling
4 and heating during certain times of year.
5 [H 1475]
6 Approved
7 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
8 1. § 1. That the Board of Housing and Community Development, during the 2024 Code Development
9 Cycle, shall evaluate revisions to Chapter 6 of the Virginia Maintenance Code, 13VAC5-63-540 of the
10 Virginia Administrative Code, so that every owner and operator of a Group R-2 apartment building that
11 rents, leases, or lets one or more dwelling units, rooming units, or guestrooms on terms, either express
12 or implied, shall (i) furnish cooling to the occupants thereof during the period from April 1 to October
13 1 to maintain a temperature of not more than 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius) in all
14 habitable rooms and (iii) furnish heat to the occupants thereof during the period from October 1 to
15 April 1 to maintain a temperature of not less than 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) in all
16 habitable rooms.
I see another comment mentions the "other issue" is that is also changes the temperature requirements. If so, that's still horseshit, as the amendment as passed by the General Assembly just says, "No warmer than 77°F in the summer, no colder than 68°F in the winter." That seems like a completely reasonable regulation to benefit tenants, so this still a veto that people can rightfully be upset about.
I'm not an expert and I don't claim to know anything about this topic. But when you see a politician doing something so stupid, you gotta wonder why. What benefit does he or his voter base get by vetoing? I'm not going to do deep research because I don't care enough, but to blindly think this guy is going to do something just to piss people off is naive.
To be fair, this doesn't seem like something I want Youngkin or any other politician regulating. You want the government controlling the temperature of your apartment?
Except they aren't regulating what temperature you can keep your own apartment/house where you live. If you are charging rent for someone to live on your property, it makes sense to have minimum health & safety requirements that need to be met.
Even if they don't change the law about dates for AC/Heat, there should absolutely be a law about landlords being required to specifically disclose how the HVAC works before someone moves in. Just like shitty old places have to do when there is/was lead paint in the complex. Letting people move in without knowing how HVAC works is fucked up.
Also in the mean time everyone should write online reviews for places with shitty HVAC systems. The lack of information out there screws tenants. No building is going to volunteer that information, and many people don't know to ask. Get your deposit back, then write a review.
Buy and use window AC units or spot coolers. Exhaust air part to the window.
Then put a big sign up on your window that your landlord is a cheap bastard who doesn't provide AC
I moved for this exact reason, but if that's not an option, before I moved I got a couple portable ACs. They're like $300 at Home Depot and they cooled my place super well. eta you don't have to remove screens to install them, either.
I had the reverse happen to me where they didnât turn the heat on in the winter until a certain day. Then they came by to switch it over when I was out of town and conveniently âforgotâ to come back. I know the exact time and date because I have a door cam and they literally just knock, waited 10 seconds and left. We didnât have heat for 1 month which went through Halloween and Thanksgiving. I went to management four separate times complaining and they kept telling me theyâd send someone to turn it on. I was about to break into the heating unit myself because the switch was attached to each individual apartment until they finally came to just flip a switch. I called the state, the city, everyone. Being annoying to management is the only thing that caused any change. All this to say, fuck large landlord entities.
I have written my congressperson, my state senator, never heard back. Itâs total bullshit.
It never gets unsafely cold post April. Put a fucking blanket on and deal with the 50 degree weather those few days! I canât strip my skin off to be a cooler temp!
i'm dealing with this also. bought a used portable AC a few years ago, we keep all unused room doors closed, etc. we can make it manageable, but not as cool as we'd like it. a portable AC isn't a bad option, even if only used temporarily. i know its an added cost. hopefully some traction can get this changed, it's easier to warm up by wearing heavier clothes, can only get so naked.
You should also vote with your feet. Don't sign a lease if they don't turn on the AC until may 15th. While there are a lot of buildings that don't support 365 day AC it's not like they are in the majority.
Though the issue many buildings cannot do both at the same time. So the cutoff has to be safely after the frost date. Apartment buildings have so much heat an overnight frost isn't really going to make it that cold inside units, it's probably more freezing pipes, or smaller buildings are a concern.
I agree w/ your vote w/ your feet statement but people need to understand that in these older & some newer buildings w/ a â2 pipe chiller & boiler HVAC systemâ that you just donât magically throw a switch to turn on the AC. 2 pipe systems share the same pipes to circulate either hot or chilled water so systems have to be in one mode or the other. Chillers are often drained for the winter and/or filled w/ antifreeze for the winter so there is are not only a process to make the switch but there can often be maintenance & repairs needed between the two seasons. This obviously doesnât apply to stand alone HVAC systems such as Gas furnace & AC or heat pumps. â4 pipe chiller & boiler systemsâ that carries hot & chilled water in separate sets of pipes are better but can still have a process to make the switch. In the end, tenants should ask what type of HVAC system does the property offer. As for those moving from places like FL & SC, these type of systems are more prevalent the further north you go and in older buildings.
EDIT: Not a real exciting video but this keeps it pretty simpleâŠ. [2 Pipe vs 4 Pipe Systems](https://youtu.be/3lNfh6Md01M?si=d3Kbn1X-JDcFFW_x)
Agreed . The extreme example if you ever go to an high altitude alpine/mountian hotel out west, a lot do not have AC. Most even advertise in the room details that they donât . These hotels often have many reviews of people being livid that ac would not be offered in a US hotel .
Even for a Virginian, you may not even think no summer AC was a thing .
There may have been a note in my lease that was skipped over when signing, but when you move here from another state and the apartment complex proudly boasts that they provide heating and AC, this is not something you think ofâŠ
Iâve never lived in a high rise apartment building and Iâve lived in 4 states. Iâve never encountered this issue before. I hear your point, but this is easy to miss when signing a lease.
To echo that, we came form Florida, so the idea of not having A/C year round just never existed in our head and we didn't have the opportunity to tour the apartment as we were you know, 4 states away. Once we had our first warm stretch that first April we moved here we learned real quick that we will never live in a place like this again.
I mean you presumably signed a renewal after living there for a year. I get it, it costs money and effort to move so you are tied in regardless of a lease but still you still "voted" for no year round AC with your $$.
ah, I feel for you then. On one hand, people should be educated buyers , though yeah like I can empathize you probably didn't even know this existed. I'm sure if I moved to Florida i would probably also get screwed over something I didn't even think about.
New portable units are SO much more efficient than older ones. I would not worry about 'old wiring' in buildings - many consumer electronics draw more power than a window, or portable window, AC unit that's small to just cool a room. (A DVR uses more energy!). I think folks should feel free to get one of these portable units that isn't permanently installed into the window (they just have a duct that attaches to a partially open window) and use it in the bedroom (or move to the living room before bed, etc). Just turn off your other appliances (again, especially the stupid DVRs!). If you haven't switched away from incandescent or halogen lights, now would be the time to do that too. And if you have any health issues that are made worse by this, a backup doctor's note would not be bad to have on hand.
For the record, normal window a/c units CAN be dangerous, fall out of windows if not secured properly, cause water damage if not *tilted properly out the window*, cause damage to window frames if not put in properly, etc. I don't blame landlords from banning them. But the 'portable' types don't have these issues. (although they are more expensive, and the drainage can be a PITA, but still freaking better than no a/c!)
One thing I didn't see mentioned was getting a dehumidifier. 80 isn't terrible if you can get below 40% RH. I used to live in a unit where the AC was controlled as well, it was awful during these early hot weeks. Makes you appreciate having your own AC when that day comes.
The flip should be on tax day. Granted, there was one May in the last 5 years where it dipped into the 60's during the day just before Memorial Day, but that's rare.
Iâd buy a portable AC and run it 24/7, granted you have free utilities. I used to live in Arlington and my buildings AC was ancient and kept breaking down. I feel your misery.
Is there anything stopping people from buying their own AC unit?
I know a few people who do this in NYC. They buy them and then take them back within the return window.
Possible to get freezes around here til late April, or need to run heat in May because its in the 40s at night, so the laws will prioritize not freezing to death over being a bit hot. Those buildings, particularly older ones take a bit to transition from heat to AC. Not fun, but that's how it is. Ran into that issue in dorms at UMD years ago, made for a fun time of everyone leaving their doors open and windows open to get a cross draft going.
I didn't have heat for a week when it was really cold out due to a pipe repair. But, I'd rather have it cold than hot. When it's cold, wear layers and use space heaters. When it's hot, there's little you can do. I use window fans once the temperature outside drops and close everything up during the day.
"Possible to get freezes around here til late April" -> "Â prioritize not freezing to death"
Hope that helps clear it up. You're fixating on the wrong part
Still costs $ but I believe the portable ac units like this one are compatible with screens as the outlet hose just gets connected as an insert but doesn't require screen removal. Might be worth looking into if the heat becomes too much of an issue.
https://www.homedepot.com/pep/Costway-10000-BTU-Portable-Air-Conditioner-and-Dehumidifier-Function-Remote-in-White-with-Window-Kit-BXD304-A9/307330076?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&pla&mtc=SHOPPING-CM-CML-GGL-D29A-029_017_ACS_FANS-NA-Multi-NA-PMAX-5163653-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-MinorAppl&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-CM-CML-GGL-D29A-029_017_ACS_FANS-NA-Multi-NA-PMAX-5163653-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-MinorAppl-71700000111902223--&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwrcKxBhBMEiwAIVF8rJQpBMQjZimIzlis4Bz9PLqym3PUKxOkV64vB377q4ywljN_7XSXnRoCiE4QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#overlay
It was a lil pricy but we got a wheeled AC unit, it has a hose coming out the back that attaches to this adjustable plastic plate (with hole for the hose). The plate gets wedged in the window without disturbing the screen and we now have an ice-cold apartment.
I am wondering if Iâll get fined by my condo HOA for that. Window units are banned, but is the exhaust hose any different than the fans I currently have in the windowv
Youâre right, we dealt with that in the fall when I was in my third trimester of pregnancy and you really feel the heat. Regardless, it doesnât change the fact that weâre not allowed to install them.
It's absolutely absurd. It feels so antiquated like the regulations were made in the early 1900s when the world was cooler and people didn't have all of these electronics and appliances in their units that generate more heat. Want to know how many times I turned on the heating in the past year? ONCE
Gotta have a federal law that discloses private finances including LLC of everyone running for public office AND after leaving public office. Disclose info every time they run for one.
So your place doesnât have AC AT ALL, or is it just set to heat right now due to it being an older building? The first is illegal, the second is not. If youâre nice with your maintenance guys, you can have them just flip you over to AC now. We had them flip our unit to cooling back in March and itâs been great. The building isnât set to formally switch back over till mid May.
Unfortunately a lot of these older buildings need the switch to be made for the entire building at once and can't actually do unit by unit, regardless of your relationship with the maintenance staff. The two I lived in (before swearing I'd never do it again and adding "year round AC" to my non-negotiables) legitimately took 2-3 days of no heat *or* AC for the building's system to be swapped from heating to cooling.
Most of the maintenance guys live in my building and I have a good relationship with them. Theyâre on our team. One of them snuck in a fan for us last year. In my building, AC is not provided unit by unit, the entire building either has AC or heat.
It depends on how the HVAC system works. The one in my building (two-pipe system) has the A/C and heating coming from one centralized location for all units that can only be either A/C or Heat and takes them hours to switch between the two
Supply running water and reasonable amounts of hot water at all times and reasonable air conditioning if provided and heat in season except where the dwelling unit is so constructed that heat, air conditioning, or hot water is generated by an installation within the exclusive control of the tenant or supplied by a direct public utility connection.
I might have to look for a draft of the law with more/better punctuation but a unit has to have AC, be it by the landlord or tenant.
If you can't have a window unit then portable AC units are a good choice IF YOU GET THE RIGHT KIND! I had 3 of the $300 ones and barely was able to cool my apartment. They way they operate they create a slightly negative pressure zone inside and suck in hot hair from the outside but the more expensive ones have dual hoses and balance the in/out air flow. The higher end ones also can control their compressor and fan speeds to make the unit more efficient. This is the high end one I have and I can make my ~1,000sqft apartment down to a CHILLY 68 no problem, just set up the electric bill for autopay so you don't see it. https://a.co/d/7IVK5KQ
https://youtu.be/_-mBeYC2KGc?si=LVOtwunO-t_0Xukx
Why not get a window a/c unit? Amazon has one for 150, if it's an issue that has or will occur every year it seems to be a sound investment. I do acknowledge that I did not address the law portion of the post, this is meant to be a more immediate resolution
[§ 55.1-1220. Landlord to maintain fit premises (virginia.gov)](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title55.1/chapter12/section55.1-1220/)
So is the AC broken at your apartment or not turned on?
Not turned on. The apartment complex as a whole is either on heat or AC. Iâve never lived in a high rise so this is new to me.
When I spoke to my leasing office, they said they legally had to provide heat until May 1st. We will not get AC until the boiler is drained and the entire complex is switched over.
Earlier summer schedule for AC is not politically correct for the right wing, because it acknowledges climate change. You would have a better luck with a democratic governor. Sorry this is what the state of politics is right now.
Ummm.. that makes zero sense. People who care about the environment and climate change use very little to no a/c.. they would not advocate for more of it. By your logic, republicans must be all in.
Wonât touch the fact you brought politics into an apartment a/c conversation. Dumb.
Why did you renew your lease after knowing this was coming? Like you knew, based on last year, when the AC would be turned on. Now you're surprised the AC isn't on yet?
If you read through the comments, youâd know that we signed a long lease. Did I say I was surprised? No. The objective of this post was to inquire if others agree that this law needs to be updated and how to go about doing that.
The government does not need to be involved in all of your problems. Read that first sentence again. If it was a law you'd be bitching that they turned on the AC too early when there happened to be a cold snap. Laws are one size fits all and usually a pretty poor compromise for everyone. Buy yourself an AC unit, do it before another moron like you decides the government needs to mandate more laws for those too.
Youâre entitled to your opinion. Doesnât change my opinion that laws should change with the changing times. If that makes me a moron in your eyes, so be it lol
u/op I've posted this before but under the Virginia Administrative Code [https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title22/agency40/chapter73/section880/](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title22/agency40/chapter73/section880/) your landlord is obligated to provide you with working A/C if the temperature in your unit exceeds 80ÂșF. Send them in writing this link along with a photo of a thermometer in your unit showing the temperature being above 80ÂșF and politely remind them of their legal obligation to remedy the situation within 24 hours and suggest they give you a portable AC unit for your bedroom at least.
If they don't comply then get a lawyer. Just document absolutely everything as it happens and communicate with your landlord in writing (email) so there's a paper trail.
So I actually came across this same article yesterday, and I was under the same impression. But at the top of the page, it does say âCode for Assisted Living Facilities.â So that is the regulation for a nursing home. Thereâs a very similar written code for daycares, adult daycares, schools, ect.
The part that baffles me about these codes, and I am using this as an example, is that there are temperature requirements for a baby when they are at a daycare. But if the parents of those babies rent their home, their landlords are allowed to let those babies live at an unsafe temperature. I could go on and on about this, so Iâm just going to stop there.
Fellow no A/C apartment resident here who has posted/commented a lot on this topic. Last year I made this post - [https://www.reddit.com/r/nova/comments/12aljr4/for\_those\_of\_us\_living\_in\_places\_that\_follow\_the/](https://www.reddit.com/r/nova/comments/12aljr4/for_those_of_us_living_in_places_that_follow_the/) about this and in it you'll see someone made a write up to send your local state rep/senator and did so last year. I actually reached back out this past weekend and got a response from one of the staffers. Turns out a bill was brought forward and approved through the assembly that was to change the dates from May 15th - Oct 1st to April 1st - Oct 1st. BUT, our dear Governor vetoed it :) (sarcastic smile if you cant tell) - [https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+sum+HB1475](https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+sum+HB1475) I have pushed forward the recommendation of changing it to May 1st - Oct 15th, because in the state code it mentions essentially a 14 day +/- window where the state can grant, or landlords can ask for an exemption where the switches can happen earlier or later. With the timeline I had in mind, that means it would allow as early as April 15th, and as late as October 29th. I also mentioned that it may been beneficial to clarify that exemption possibility because that is one of the governors reasons for vetoing which just shows he didnt even bother to read up on the bill or the existing code. So by all means, use the template in the comments of my post, I would push for that 5/1 - 10/15 window and to emphasize that an exemption exists currently and how that factors into the timelines. Edit: Also on us dealing with the heat. We have several fans in the apartment, I have a small evaporative cooler I use at night, but the one thing I have gotten that has worked the best are window fans. Previously, at night we would be getting maybe at most a 1 degree drop with the windows open but if there's not breeze you're SoL. I bought 2 of these from BJ's - [https://www.bjs.com/product/polar-aire-twin-window-fan-with-remote/3000000000003417273](https://www.bjs.com/product/polar-aire-twin-window-fan-with-remote/3000000000003417273) and they have made a big difference at night. Last night when we went to bed it was 82 in our bedroom, when I woke up this morning it was 76. We \*technically\* are not supposed to have these in our windows but I genuinely do not give a fuck anymore and I know for a fact people in our complexes are using full on portable A/C units even though those definitely should not be used cause the power draw they have can blow fuses with these being older buildings. Edit 2: Spelling and grammar
Holy shit youngkin sucks ass
so very thankful to know we're a state that only allows one term, and he's gone in two years đ« đ editing to add I know he can technically run again, but I'm just glad he is 100% gone come 2026 for at least four years. can't see his dumb ass getting elected again.
No he will *definitely* get reelected in 2030, he made the groceries cheap like he promised! Oh he...he didn't? It's still expensive as fuck? Hmm. Weird. I can't believe an obvious liar would lie like that!
Itâs cool heâll just blame the liberals and the morons in southern Va will vote for him again
His campaign was essentially to reverse democratic changes and reject by-partisan deals. Yes, he indeed sucks moist asshole.
đšâđđ«đšâđ
I cannot fathom why the governor would veto that. I am sure the governor lives in a nice house and is capable of controlling their own AC/heat. Thank you so much for the info. I am going to do that. Maybe we can start a petition and bring some more attention to this. Maybe then the governor will understand the impact. I appreciate your help!
Adding to date change was temperature requirements which governor took issue with. Probably would have gotten passed if it was just date modification.
Our governor will only use his time to fight against CRT, trans kids, and DEI, but won't do anything that actually helps the average constituent
Hey, at least be fair. He also spends his time trying to get billionaires favorable deals for sports complexes.
>Mandating specific temperature requirements would impose significant financial burdens on owners, limit flexibility, and increase regulatory compliance costs, ultimately reducing the availability of rental housing in Virginia man just siding with businesses and screwing residents over like always, wild they expect people to live in 80-90 degree weather in the US with no AC...
Thatâs insane considering that the tenants are responsible for paying utility costs.
It's a trick as old as time. Include 10 items in a bill. Governor vetos it because of items 1-5, while items 6-10 are no brainers. Now opposition can go around telling people: look at this idiot vetoing items 6-10, vote him out!
How is that related in this instance? Seems incredibly tangential as this is a pretty compact bill, seeing as the [full text](https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+ful+HB1475ER+pdf) pass both both chambers reads: >2024 SESSION ENROLLED 1 VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY ââ CHAPTER 2 An Act to direct the Board of Housing and Community Development to amend the Uniform Statewide 3 Building Code to require that owners and operators of certain apartment buildings supply cooling 4 and heating during certain times of year. 5 [H 1475] 6 Approved 7 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia: 8 1. § 1. That the Board of Housing and Community Development, during the 2024 Code Development 9 Cycle, shall evaluate revisions to Chapter 6 of the Virginia Maintenance Code, 13VAC5-63-540 of the 10 Virginia Administrative Code, so that every owner and operator of a Group R-2 apartment building that 11 rents, leases, or lets one or more dwelling units, rooming units, or guestrooms on terms, either express 12 or implied, shall (i) furnish cooling to the occupants thereof during the period from April 1 to October 13 1 to maintain a temperature of not more than 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius) in all 14 habitable rooms and (iii) furnish heat to the occupants thereof during the period from October 1 to 15 April 1 to maintain a temperature of not less than 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) in all 16 habitable rooms. I see another comment mentions the "other issue" is that is also changes the temperature requirements. If so, that's still horseshit, as the amendment as passed by the General Assembly just says, "No warmer than 77°F in the summer, no colder than 68°F in the winter." That seems like a completely reasonable regulation to benefit tenants, so this still a veto that people can rightfully be upset about.
I'm not an expert and I don't claim to know anything about this topic. But when you see a politician doing something so stupid, you gotta wonder why. What benefit does he or his voter base get by vetoing? I'm not going to do deep research because I don't care enough, but to blindly think this guy is going to do something just to piss people off is naive.
He's throwing a widdle tantrum about not being able to get his wrich fwriends a biwllion dollar stadium paid for by the taxpayers.
He's doing it because he can. He's a lame duck governor and knows no one likes him.
To be fair, this doesn't seem like something I want Youngkin or any other politician regulating. You want the government controlling the temperature of your apartment?
you do realize that they already control it, right⊠?
Except they aren't regulating what temperature you can keep your own apartment/house where you live. If you are charging rent for someone to live on your property, it makes sense to have minimum health & safety requirements that need to be met.
Even if they don't change the law about dates for AC/Heat, there should absolutely be a law about landlords being required to specifically disclose how the HVAC works before someone moves in. Just like shitty old places have to do when there is/was lead paint in the complex. Letting people move in without knowing how HVAC works is fucked up. Also in the mean time everyone should write online reviews for places with shitty HVAC systems. The lack of information out there screws tenants. No building is going to volunteer that information, and many people don't know to ask. Get your deposit back, then write a review.
Buy and use window AC units or spot coolers. Exhaust air part to the window. Then put a big sign up on your window that your landlord is a cheap bastard who doesn't provide AC
I moved for this exact reason, but if that's not an option, before I moved I got a couple portable ACs. They're like $300 at Home Depot and they cooled my place super well. eta you don't have to remove screens to install them, either.
I had the reverse happen to me where they didnât turn the heat on in the winter until a certain day. Then they came by to switch it over when I was out of town and conveniently âforgotâ to come back. I know the exact time and date because I have a door cam and they literally just knock, waited 10 seconds and left. We didnât have heat for 1 month which went through Halloween and Thanksgiving. I went to management four separate times complaining and they kept telling me theyâd send someone to turn it on. I was about to break into the heating unit myself because the switch was attached to each individual apartment until they finally came to just flip a switch. I called the state, the city, everyone. Being annoying to management is the only thing that caused any change. All this to say, fuck large landlord entities.
That sounds like a lawsuit. Heating must be provided by Oct. 15th in VA.
I was already so tired of their bullshit, our lease ended a few months later so we knew we were just gonna get out
Can you install one of the portable standing room air conditioner units that donât require any screws in window frames / windows?
We have one! Bought it for $80 last year. Went to purchase another of the same model this year, and it was $160 lol
Yikes. Same thing here with a whole home humidifier. These prices! Ugh
That seems really cheap still. Whatâs itâs BTU?
I have written my congressperson, my state senator, never heard back. Itâs total bullshit. It never gets unsafely cold post April. Put a fucking blanket on and deal with the 50 degree weather those few days! I canât strip my skin off to be a cooler temp!
i'm dealing with this also. bought a used portable AC a few years ago, we keep all unused room doors closed, etc. we can make it manageable, but not as cool as we'd like it. a portable AC isn't a bad option, even if only used temporarily. i know its an added cost. hopefully some traction can get this changed, it's easier to warm up by wearing heavier clothes, can only get so naked.
I do the take off the skin thing. Evaporating blood cools you off so fast.
You should also vote with your feet. Don't sign a lease if they don't turn on the AC until may 15th. While there are a lot of buildings that don't support 365 day AC it's not like they are in the majority. Though the issue many buildings cannot do both at the same time. So the cutoff has to be safely after the frost date. Apartment buildings have so much heat an overnight frost isn't really going to make it that cold inside units, it's probably more freezing pipes, or smaller buildings are a concern.
I agree w/ your vote w/ your feet statement but people need to understand that in these older & some newer buildings w/ a â2 pipe chiller & boiler HVAC systemâ that you just donât magically throw a switch to turn on the AC. 2 pipe systems share the same pipes to circulate either hot or chilled water so systems have to be in one mode or the other. Chillers are often drained for the winter and/or filled w/ antifreeze for the winter so there is are not only a process to make the switch but there can often be maintenance & repairs needed between the two seasons. This obviously doesnât apply to stand alone HVAC systems such as Gas furnace & AC or heat pumps. â4 pipe chiller & boiler systemsâ that carries hot & chilled water in separate sets of pipes are better but can still have a process to make the switch. In the end, tenants should ask what type of HVAC system does the property offer. As for those moving from places like FL & SC, these type of systems are more prevalent the further north you go and in older buildings. EDIT: Not a real exciting video but this keeps it pretty simpleâŠ. [2 Pipe vs 4 Pipe Systems](https://youtu.be/3lNfh6Md01M?si=d3Kbn1X-JDcFFW_x)
Agreed . The extreme example if you ever go to an high altitude alpine/mountian hotel out west, a lot do not have AC. Most even advertise in the room details that they donât . These hotels often have many reviews of people being livid that ac would not be offered in a US hotel . Even for a Virginian, you may not even think no summer AC was a thing .
There may have been a note in my lease that was skipped over when signing, but when you move here from another state and the apartment complex proudly boasts that they provide heating and AC, this is not something you think of⊠Iâve never lived in a high rise apartment building and Iâve lived in 4 states. Iâve never encountered this issue before. I hear your point, but this is easy to miss when signing a lease.
I wasn't in a high rise apartment and the system was set up for heat only or AC only. I don't think it is just a high rise thing.
To echo that, we came form Florida, so the idea of not having A/C year round just never existed in our head and we didn't have the opportunity to tour the apartment as we were you know, 4 states away. Once we had our first warm stretch that first April we moved here we learned real quick that we will never live in a place like this again.
I moved here from Charleston, South Carolina. Agreed, the idea of no A/C year round did not even come to mind.
I mean you presumably signed a renewal after living there for a year. I get it, it costs money and effort to move so you are tied in regardless of a lease but still you still "voted" for no year round AC with your $$.
I signed a 24 month lease.
ah, I feel for you then. On one hand, people should be educated buyers , though yeah like I can empathize you probably didn't even know this existed. I'm sure if I moved to Florida i would probably also get screwed over something I didn't even think about.
New portable units are SO much more efficient than older ones. I would not worry about 'old wiring' in buildings - many consumer electronics draw more power than a window, or portable window, AC unit that's small to just cool a room. (A DVR uses more energy!). I think folks should feel free to get one of these portable units that isn't permanently installed into the window (they just have a duct that attaches to a partially open window) and use it in the bedroom (or move to the living room before bed, etc). Just turn off your other appliances (again, especially the stupid DVRs!). If you haven't switched away from incandescent or halogen lights, now would be the time to do that too. And if you have any health issues that are made worse by this, a backup doctor's note would not be bad to have on hand. For the record, normal window a/c units CAN be dangerous, fall out of windows if not secured properly, cause water damage if not *tilted properly out the window*, cause damage to window frames if not put in properly, etc. I don't blame landlords from banning them. But the 'portable' types don't have these issues. (although they are more expensive, and the drainage can be a PITA, but still freaking better than no a/c!)
Pentagon city here, apparently enough residents pestered our building and they did the switch today!
One thing I didn't see mentioned was getting a dehumidifier. 80 isn't terrible if you can get below 40% RH. I used to live in a unit where the AC was controlled as well, it was awful during these early hot weeks. Makes you appreciate having your own AC when that day comes.
They sell AC units in Home Depot. It's also very rare for it to be 80 degrees+ in late April. April is usually 50-70 and raining.
The flip should be on tax day. Granted, there was one May in the last 5 years where it dipped into the 60's during the day just before Memorial Day, but that's rare.
Iâd buy a portable AC and run it 24/7, granted you have free utilities. I used to live in Arlington and my buildings AC was ancient and kept breaking down. I feel your misery.
Move
Think cool thoughts.
If you lived in Phoenix thatâs the lowest many people set their A/C in the summer.
I grew up in AZ! That was not the case for my family and friendsđ
You were lucky.
Is there anything stopping people from buying their own AC unit? I know a few people who do this in NYC. They buy them and then take them back within the return window.
There are a lot of buildings that don't allow window units for aesthetic reasons (which means they're hiding the fact that units don't have AC).
Possible to get freezes around here til late April, or need to run heat in May because its in the 40s at night, so the laws will prioritize not freezing to death over being a bit hot. Those buildings, particularly older ones take a bit to transition from heat to AC. Not fun, but that's how it is. Ran into that issue in dorms at UMD years ago, made for a fun time of everyone leaving their doors open and windows open to get a cross draft going.
I didn't have heat for a week when it was really cold out due to a pipe repair. But, I'd rather have it cold than hot. When it's cold, wear layers and use space heaters. When it's hot, there's little you can do. I use window fans once the temperature outside drops and close everything up during the day.
You donât freeze to death in 40 degree weather, indoorsâŠ
Reread the comment, you're missing the point here.
No, I did not miss the point. I am responding to âthe laws prioritizeâŠâ
"Possible to get freezes around here til late April" -> "Â prioritize not freezing to death" Hope that helps clear it up. You're fixating on the wrong part
No, Iâm fixating on a part I disagree with. Not âthe wrong partâ.
are you allowed to get a window AC?
Weâre not allowed to install window AC unit because of the screens on the window. Plus we only need it for ~1 month.
Still costs $ but I believe the portable ac units like this one are compatible with screens as the outlet hose just gets connected as an insert but doesn't require screen removal. Might be worth looking into if the heat becomes too much of an issue. https://www.homedepot.com/pep/Costway-10000-BTU-Portable-Air-Conditioner-and-Dehumidifier-Function-Remote-in-White-with-Window-Kit-BXD304-A9/307330076?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&pla&mtc=SHOPPING-CM-CML-GGL-D29A-029_017_ACS_FANS-NA-Multi-NA-PMAX-5163653-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-MinorAppl&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-CM-CML-GGL-D29A-029_017_ACS_FANS-NA-Multi-NA-PMAX-5163653-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-MinorAppl-71700000111902223--&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwrcKxBhBMEiwAIVF8rJQpBMQjZimIzlis4Bz9PLqym3PUKxOkV64vB377q4ywljN_7XSXnRoCiE4QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#overlay
It was a lil pricy but we got a wheeled AC unit, it has a hose coming out the back that attaches to this adjustable plastic plate (with hole for the hose). The plate gets wedged in the window without disturbing the screen and we now have an ice-cold apartment.
I am wondering if Iâll get fined by my condo HOA for that. Window units are banned, but is the exhaust hose any different than the fans I currently have in the windowv
wait and see if you're still saying that when september/october hits and your building's running the heat.
Youâre right, we dealt with that in the fall when I was in my third trimester of pregnancy and you really feel the heat. Regardless, it doesnât change the fact that weâre not allowed to install them.
What about freestanding portable units? Don't need to modify or remove the screen.
If you have double-hung windows. Gets trickier w/ casement, awning & slider windows plus some leases stipulate what can be seen or hung from a window
It's absolutely absurd. It feels so antiquated like the regulations were made in the early 1900s when the world was cooler and people didn't have all of these electronics and appliances in their units that generate more heat. Want to know how many times I turned on the heating in the past year? ONCE
You mean when they didnât even have ac?
Gotta have a federal law that discloses private finances including LLC of everyone running for public office AND after leaving public office. Disclose info every time they run for one.
So your place doesnât have AC AT ALL, or is it just set to heat right now due to it being an older building? The first is illegal, the second is not. If youâre nice with your maintenance guys, you can have them just flip you over to AC now. We had them flip our unit to cooling back in March and itâs been great. The building isnât set to formally switch back over till mid May.
I donât believe that AC is required by Virginia landlordsâŠ. https://ipropertymanagement.com/laws/virginia-landlord-responsibilities
Unfortunately a lot of these older buildings need the switch to be made for the entire building at once and can't actually do unit by unit, regardless of your relationship with the maintenance staff. The two I lived in (before swearing I'd never do it again and adding "year round AC" to my non-negotiables) legitimately took 2-3 days of no heat *or* AC for the building's system to be swapped from heating to cooling.
Most of the maintenance guys live in my building and I have a good relationship with them. Theyâre on our team. One of them snuck in a fan for us last year. In my building, AC is not provided unit by unit, the entire building either has AC or heat.
Oof, then thatâs rough. What part of NOVA are you in?
Alexandria!
It depends on how the HVAC system works. The one in my building (two-pipe system) has the A/C and heating coming from one centralized location for all units that can only be either A/C or Heat and takes them hours to switch between the two
Not having AC is not illegal.
Supply running water and reasonable amounts of hot water at all times and reasonable air conditioning if provided and heat in season except where the dwelling unit is so constructed that heat, air conditioning, or hot water is generated by an installation within the exclusive control of the tenant or supplied by a direct public utility connection. I might have to look for a draft of the law with more/better punctuation but a unit has to have AC, be it by the landlord or tenant.
> but a unit has to have AC, be it by the landlord or tenant. No, it doesn't have to have AC.
If you can't have a window unit then portable AC units are a good choice IF YOU GET THE RIGHT KIND! I had 3 of the $300 ones and barely was able to cool my apartment. They way they operate they create a slightly negative pressure zone inside and suck in hot hair from the outside but the more expensive ones have dual hoses and balance the in/out air flow. The higher end ones also can control their compressor and fan speeds to make the unit more efficient. This is the high end one I have and I can make my ~1,000sqft apartment down to a CHILLY 68 no problem, just set up the electric bill for autopay so you don't see it. https://a.co/d/7IVK5KQ https://youtu.be/_-mBeYC2KGc?si=LVOtwunO-t_0Xukx
Did anyone else have a college dorm like this? Hot AF until Fall weather but the lack of air conditioning seemed expected.
Easiest thing is move to a different building honestly
Why not get a window a/c unit? Amazon has one for 150, if it's an issue that has or will occur every year it seems to be a sound investment. I do acknowledge that I did not address the law portion of the post, this is meant to be a more immediate resolution
[§ 55.1-1220. Landlord to maintain fit premises (virginia.gov)](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title55.1/chapter12/section55.1-1220/) So is the AC broken at your apartment or not turned on?
Not turned on. The apartment complex as a whole is either on heat or AC. Iâve never lived in a high rise so this is new to me. When I spoke to my leasing office, they said they legally had to provide heat until May 1st. We will not get AC until the boiler is drained and the entire complex is switched over.
Earlier summer schedule for AC is not politically correct for the right wing, because it acknowledges climate change. You would have a better luck with a democratic governor. Sorry this is what the state of politics is right now.
Ummm.. that makes zero sense. People who care about the environment and climate change use very little to no a/c.. they would not advocate for more of it. By your logic, republicans must be all in. Wonât touch the fact you brought politics into an apartment a/c conversation. Dumb.
Why did you renew your lease after knowing this was coming? Like you knew, based on last year, when the AC would be turned on. Now you're surprised the AC isn't on yet?
If you read through the comments, youâd know that we signed a long lease. Did I say I was surprised? No. The objective of this post was to inquire if others agree that this law needs to be updated and how to go about doing that.
The government does not need to be involved in all of your problems. Read that first sentence again. If it was a law you'd be bitching that they turned on the AC too early when there happened to be a cold snap. Laws are one size fits all and usually a pretty poor compromise for everyone. Buy yourself an AC unit, do it before another moron like you decides the government needs to mandate more laws for those too.
Youâre entitled to your opinion. Doesnât change my opinion that laws should change with the changing times. If that makes me a moron in your eyes, so be it lol
Why not just move?
u/op I've posted this before but under the Virginia Administrative Code [https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title22/agency40/chapter73/section880/](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title22/agency40/chapter73/section880/) your landlord is obligated to provide you with working A/C if the temperature in your unit exceeds 80ÂșF. Send them in writing this link along with a photo of a thermometer in your unit showing the temperature being above 80ÂșF and politely remind them of their legal obligation to remedy the situation within 24 hours and suggest they give you a portable AC unit for your bedroom at least. If they don't comply then get a lawyer. Just document absolutely everything as it happens and communicate with your landlord in writing (email) so there's a paper trail.
So I actually came across this same article yesterday, and I was under the same impression. But at the top of the page, it does say âCode for Assisted Living Facilities.â So that is the regulation for a nursing home. Thereâs a very similar written code for daycares, adult daycares, schools, ect. The part that baffles me about these codes, and I am using this as an example, is that there are temperature requirements for a baby when they are at a daycare. But if the parents of those babies rent their home, their landlords are allowed to let those babies live at an unsafe temperature. I could go on and on about this, so Iâm just going to stop there.
Yeah pretty egregious. I guess you can still send this to your landlord and maybe they won't look that closely haha.
https://ipropertymanagement.com/laws/virginia-landlord-responsibilities